Nordic SkiingRuka Triple
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Day of grace in Ruka for the landlord Iivo Niskanen who clearly wins the first seasonal distance. Back on the podium after two years in a race starting at intervals Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, second, who beat Emil Iversen.
Saturday 30 November 2019 7 minutes reading time
When he competes at home he transforms: Iivo Niskanen wins by convincing the alternating 15 km starting at today's interval held in Ruka on the occasion of the Nordic Opening, launching a gauntlet to the Norwegian battleship. Striking the eye was also a remarkable Johannes Høsflot Klæbo who with the square of honor is firmly the yellow bib and leader of the Triple.
On the six victories in first-level competitions, 4 came in the snowy friends of Finland, all of which in this race format. Iivo Niskanen has achieved an unquestionable success today, proving to be the most fit man of the moment in classical technique. After a first couple of kilometers of adjustment, the Finn gained the lead of the race in the first lap from 5 km and essentially did not yield it until the crossing on the finish line, but making a continuous 'elastic' with Norwegians probably accomplices prepared materials differently from athlete to athlete.
As said Johannes Klæbo got a very convincing second place, resulting solid on the whole of the 15 kilometers and closing just 13 '’from the winner. With this result the winner of the last two crystal balls has maintained the leadership in the ranking of the Ruka Triple as Niskanen will have on the rump still 18 'in view of the skating pursuit scheduled for tomorrow. The champion of Trondheim, moreover, has obtained the third top-three of his career in competitions on the distance against the time trial, after the two conquered two seasons ago: his competitiveness in this sense is the sine qua non condition to confirm himself at the top of the world fund seen the seasonal calendar.
Third step of the podium for Emil Iversen: the Norwegian born in 1991 took part in a competition in line with Klæbo, with the two who became protagonists of an incredible 'elastic' without giving any logical references on the single sections of the track. Finally the gap between the two stood at a couple of seconds, making Iversen a very dangerous man ahead of tomorrow's test as he will start paired with Niskanen.
The Finn was the only one able to break the Russian-Norwegian hegemony for the top 10 positions: fourth coin of the day for specialist Didrik Tønseth at 33 '' from the victory, which preceded an Alexander Bolshunov not appeared with the enamel better days after starting strong in the first kilometers. The Klæbo peer in these two days has accumulated 44 '' from rival norge, so tomorrow he will need a business to try to get on the Mini Tour podium. Together with Bolshunov Pål Golberg (7th today) will also appear, apparently the only ones still with no chance of trying to harpoon a prestigious top-three.
The top 10 today were completed by the Russians Andrey Larkov (6th), Sergey Ustiugov (9th) and Ivan Yakimushkin (10th), as well as the 50 km world champion Hans Christer Holund (8th). These are unlikely to be protagonists in the final act of the Opening due to the large gaps in Friday's sprint.
At home Italy excellent performance by Federico Pellegrino who finished 13th at 1’10 ’’ from Niskanen, reiterating the results obtained in the pre-season releases in this format. All the other Azzurri were more in difficulty starting with Francesco De Fabiani (30th) even 2 minutes from the head, followed by Giandomenico Salvadori (33rd), Maicol Rastelli (61st) and Stefan Zelger (70th). Pellegrino will have his best starting position tomorrow, about 1’30 ’’ from Klæbo.
RUKA - 15 KM TC
1. NISKANEN Iivo (FIN) 35'17''0 2. KLÆBO Johannes Høsflot (NOR) at 13''0 3. IVERSEN Emil (NOR) at 14''9 4. TØNSETH Didrik (NOR) at 33''1 5. BOLSHUNOV Alexander (RUS) at 43''8 6. LARKOV Andrey (RUS) at 45''4 7. GOLBERG Pål (NOR) at 49''7 8. HOLUND Hans Christer (NOR) at 55''9 9 . USTIUGOV Sergey (RUS) at 57''2 10. YAKIMUSHKIN Ivan (RUS) at 1'06''2
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